Know Your Diabetes Supplies

Diabetes, a disease that affects the body's ability to regulate sugar, affects more than twenty million Americans: men, women, and children. The American Diabetes Association, a not-for-profit organization, has been supporting the health of these people and their loved ones through research and information, not to mention support. If you have recently been diagnosed as a diabetic, you are bound to be overwhelmed by the amount of education you need. Therefore, go to the ADA, where you can find out all you need to know about managing your disease, and where and how to get your supplies. Couple this resource with your doctor, and you will find you have much support.

Depending on the type of diabetes you have, type 1 or type 2, your diabetes supplies will differ. You may be wondering what it means to have type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. With type 1 diabetes, the body reacts to sugar by simply ignoring it, in essence. You see, the pancreas is supposed to produce insulin, the chemical that allows sugars to break down and convert to energy. But with type 1 diabetes, there is no insulin being produced. This is what as known as “insulin dependent” diabetes, because people with type 1 are required to inject themselves with artificial insulin whenever their glucose monitors indicate that the sugar levels are too high. So if you have type 1, your diabetes supplies will include sterile syringes, insulin, and a glucose monitoring machine.

Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed when the body is for some reason resistant to insulin. In these cases, the pancreas is producing insulin, though likely not enough, but yet the body refuses to use the insulin the right way. For these diabetics, often a diet that limits sugar intake, coupled with oral medications, can keep the diabetes and the blood sugar at normal levels. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes require constant blood sugar monitoring, though, so your diabetes supplies will include the glucose monitoring system, in addition to your pills prescribed by your doctor.

The glucose monitoring system can be purchased at any drug store; your insurance may or may not cover these diabetes supplies, so you'll have to check with your insurance to make certain this is a covered purchase. Also, disposable test strips are usually needed with these monitors. Some newer models are now out that do not require costly strips for collection of the drop of blood. You syringes and insulin, or in the case of type 2, your pills, are all also going to be available through your drug store; you will have a prescription for these items.

Diabetes supplies can be overwhelming and daunting; over time, though, as you adjust to the slight change in your lifestyle, these diabetes supplies are bound to feel like second nature to you. You'll carry your glucose monitor with you, as well as your insulin. Diabetes supplies require special care and storage, so depending on what you need to manage your disease, be sure to read all of the accompanying literature. And as always, the ADA or your doctor can answer any other questions you may have about your diabetes supplies.